Saddle for garment straps

ABSTRACT

SADDLES FOR SHOULDER STRAPS FOR BRASSIERES. THE SADDLES ARE LAMINATED AND IDENTICAL. EACH SADDLE INCLUDES A BASE LAMINATE COMPRISING A LENGTH OF SOFT PADDING TO WHICH IS SECURED BY STITCHING A MATCHING LENGTH AND WIDTH OF RELATIVELY THIN PLASTIC MATERIAL WHICH RENDERS THE BASE SELFCONFORMING TO THE SHOULDER OF THE WEARER. TWO OPPOSING, PARALLEL, FLEXIBLE, STRAP-ENGAGING MEMBERS ARE SECURED TO THE BASE BY STITCHING INWARDLY FOR A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THEIR OUTER ENDS TO RENDER THE MEMBERS FLEXIBLE THROUGHOUT THEIR LENGTH WITH THE BASE, AND ALSO INDEPENDENTLY FLEXIBLE RELATIVE TO THE BASE. THE STRAP-ENGAGING MEMBERS ARE OF A SINGLE THICKNESS OF CLEAR PLASTIC MATERIAL.

June 29, 1971 Ew|NG 3,588,913

SADDLE FOR GARMENT STRAPS Filed Dec. 22, 1969 LE' ILA E. EWING.

INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,588,913 SADDLE FOR GARMENT STRAPS Lella E. Ewing, 224 Eden Park, Gleneden Beach, Oreg. 97388 Filed Dec. 22, 1969, Ser. No. 886,850 Int. Cl. A4111 13/00 US. Cl. 2-2 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Saddles for shoulder straps for brassieres. The saddles are laminated and identical. Each saddle includes a base laminate comprising a length of soft padding to which is secured by stitching a matching length and width of relatively thin plastic material which renders the base selfconforming to the shoulder of the wearer. Two opposing, parallel, flexible, strap-engaging members are secured to the base by stitching inwardly for a short distance from their outer ends to render the members flexible throughout their length with the base, and also independently flexible relative to the base. The strap-engaging members are of a single thickness of clear plastic material.

The objects of the invention are:

To provide saddles for shoulder straps as above described which are of minimum thickness and of suflicient length, width and laterally extended through their center section to readily flex into conformity with the shoulder of the wearer to distribute the suspended weight comfortably and in a manner which contributes to the positioned attachment of the saddle to the strap of the brassiere.

To provide a saddle of the character described which prevents formation of shoulder creases and protects against the embedding of the brassiere straps in existing creases. The binding of conventional brassiere straps at the apex of the shoulder of the wearer has been diagnosed as being the direct cause, in many cases, of pain in the shoulder, arms and hands.

To provide a saddle of the character described which does not reveal its outline in a covering garment.

To provide a saddle of the character described which is of light weight and readily flexible with the flexing of a shoulder strap without disturbing its holding engagement during adjustment of the strap or its removal from or placement over the shoulder of the wearer.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a pair of shoulder strap saddles made in accordance with my invention and operatively engaged with the shoulder straps of a brassiere.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale typical of either of the two identical saddles shown in FIG. 1, with fragments broken away to illustrate internal parts.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the saddle on an em 3,588,913 Patented June 29, 1971 larged scale showing its approximate configuration when applied to the shoulder of a wearer.

With continuing reference to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate like parts, numeral 1 indicates generally a laminated shoulder strap saddle comprising a base laminate in the form of a paddling 2 made of soft, flexible material such as felting, felted cloth, or the like, secured as by stitching 3 and 4 to a top laminate 5 which is of relatively thin material such as plastic, or the like. The area between the base padding 2 and top laminate 5, defined by the stitching 3 and 4, provides an enclosure for a thin sheet of plastic material 6 shaped in accordance with the outline of the stitching to thereby add some stiffness to the base as a whole.

The converging lines of the side stitching 3 extend through the end portions 7 of two cooperating flaps 8 and 9 to secure the same to the laminated based.

It will be noted in FIG. 2 that the spacing between the stitched end portions of the flaps leaves the center section of the flaps free for flexing independently of the ase.

The flaps 8 and 9 are single strips of solid but flexible plastic material of sufiicient stiffness to maintain their grip on the straps regardless of the location of their respective padding relative to the curvature of the wearers shoulders. The gripping engagement is maintained across the area between the inwardly stitched ends 7 of the flaps and also by the tension applied to the intermediate portions thereof by the assumed radius of curvature over the wearers shoulder.

What I claim is:

1. A shoulder strap saddle comprising a base member in the form of padding adapted to overlie the apex of a wearers shoulder,

a covering for the padding coextensive in length and width said base member and stitched to said padding along the side marginal edges of said base member and across its end marginal portions,

a sheet of thin, flexible plastic material matching the shape defined by said stitching and disposed within the space between said padding and covering as outlined by said stitching, and

two identical flaps having free opposed ends and outer edges with the outer edges being secured only at the end portions with the intermediate portions therebetween being free, whereby the intermediate portions of said flaps are flexible independently of padding flexure.

2. A shoulder strap saddle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said covering for the padding and the material matching the shape defined by said stitching are both of plastic material, and said padding is of felt material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,587,101 2/1952 Blalock et a1. 2-2 2,763,004 9/1956 Sanders 2-2 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner G. H. KRJZMANICH, Assistant Examiner 

